J. K. Galbraith: Liberal Politics and the Economics of the Modern Business Firm

Abstract

This appreciation of J. K. Galbraith (JKG) is one of an occasional series of Reputations that New Political Economy carries reviewing the work and life of significant political economists. It is appropriate to include JKG is this series, not only because of his obvious academic stature but also in recognition of the fact that ten years ago he opened the Political Economy Research Centre at the University of Sheffield, UK, from which NPE is managed. To some extent the discussion presented here is based on published work, but in addition an important source involves an interview with JKG conducted on 27 March 2003 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Michael Dietrich and Andrew Gamble. Much of the material covered in the interview is developed in more detail in a forthcoming book by JKG to be published in the near future. All quotations and information sources that are not obviously referenced in the text are based on this interview. The discussion is organised as follows. Following a brief introduction, the main section considers Galbraith as a political economist. The focus here is to trace the structure and evolution of JKG's intellectual project. This leads on to a consideration of Galbraith as a political animal and commentator on world affairs. One objective here is to trace the linkages between the intellectual and political projects. Finally, a conclusion is presented under the rubric of Galbraith the man.